Who are we and what are we actually doing here?

During our university career, we were able to gain professional practical experience, among other things, for the Recklinghausen City Sports Association in local schools, as well as for various fitness studios and sports clubs. We quickly found out that sports, regardless of age or gender, motivation or expectations, are an essential building block for a healthy and active lifestyle. Whether with children, competitive athletes, or people for whom sports had a medical background. They all had very different intentions that brought them closer to physical activity, but the positive aspects affected each of them, whether consciously or unconsciously, over time.

This complexity, which can be found in sports today, fascinated us from the first day and as sports scientists, we want to explore it every day. Sports has now spread and developed all over the world until it became what we understand today. Although sports today is a global phenomenon, there are fine differences from region to region, which are due to the respective cultural particularities.

In order to understand and get to know the many facets of sports in other parts of the world, as well as to bring our Western understanding of sports, exercise, and health closer to the local people, we are embarking on a journey that will take us to the other end of the world. The final duration of this journey is currently unknown. We will first make our way through several countries in Asia to Australia. Although plans on-site are often overturned or at least changed, the approximate order of the countries we want to cross currently looks like this:

• Arrival in Bangkok (Thailand)
• Cambodia
• Vietnam
• Laos
• Myanmar
• Southern Thailand (Ko Tao/ Ko Pha-ngan)
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Indonesia
• Philippines
• East Timor
• Australia

This blog is intended to provide all interested parties with a glimpse beyond the world of sports. How has the understanding of sports developed in other countries? Which sports are popular in which regions? What role does health play in the exercise culture of a society? These are just a few of the questions we will be looking for answers to in the coming months.

During our travels, we will not only focus on sports, fitness, and exercise in the traditional sense. The time we spend traveling, the typical local characteristics, and above all the people we meet on-site will be another thematic focus of this blog. We want to support anyone who is considering exploring this part of the world personally with our experiences and provide an insight into what to expect on such a journey. In the section below, you will find a brief overview of what we want to focus on in the upcoming phase of our lives.

Sports:

• Testing local sports and sports-like customs
• Classic sports in an unusual atmosphere
• Exploring popular trend sports
• Exploring impressive locations for various outdoor sports (climbing, diving, surfing, ....)
• Fitness and nutrition tips for travelers

Travel:

• Travel reports for sports-oriented globetrotters
• Tips for visas, accommodations, finances, etc.
• Explanation of cultural, region-dependent peculiarities
• Sightseeing and impressions